Courtesy of Carla Sinclair

AQUASCAPING Aquascaping or in other words ‘underwater gardening’ is the arrangement of different elements such as rocks, driftwood, aquatic plants and more within an aquarium. This interior design hobby, developed in Japan and Indonesia, has a love of all things water at its heart. There are many different styles of aquascaping and many factors to consider in the design. One technique called “planted tank” is perfect for bringing a hint of water to smaller rooms, without the space – and funds – required for large aquariums. Also known as natural aquariums, planted tanks use a special type of soil that allows plants to grow underwater. As for the creatures that can inhabit the tank, it doesn’t have to be the usual fishy suspects. Salamanders and shrimp are popular aquascaping choices.